New Jersey travel and tourism leaders visit 3 European countries to promote Garden State

Members from the Northern New Jersey chapter of Skal International held its 10th anniversary friendship trip to Maastricht, Holland in November.

Members from the Northern New Jersey chapter of Skal International held its 10th anniversary friendship trip to Maastricht, Holland in November. “Doing business among friends and creating opportunities for reciprocal travel and tourism is what our annual trip is all about,” said Skal NNJ President Robert Lowell. “Every year we are delighted to visit our European Skalleagues and extend an invitation to visit the Garden State.”

Skal is the largest professional travel and tourism organization in the world and is dedicated to promoting goodwill and friendship among those in the travel industry.

Longtime Skal NNJ member and former president Hans van Doorne, a Mendham resident and owner of Murray Hill International Travel and Holland Approach, planned this year’s trip working closely with his contacts overseas.

“Skal members in Holland, Belgium and Germany sponsored or arranged many of the activities,” he said.

van Doorne said some highlights of Holland included a guided walking tour of Maastricht, a visit to the World War II Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, a tour of Grotten of the Sint Pietersberg and “koffie en vlaai” (coffee and pie) at the Bisschopsmolen, a water mill and bakery dating back to the 11th century.

A traditional Dutch lunch was hosted by Grand-Cafe Buitengoed Slavante, a rural estate dating back to 1846 located on the eastern slope of the Sint Pietersberg. Shopping and dining in Maastricht city center gave a boost to the local economy.

Skal NNJ secretary Jim Dwyer, a Monroe resident and Director of Cruise Sales at Papa’s Travel in Secaucus organized a tourism networking dinner with Skal Liege, Belgium aboard the Le Pays de Liege.

The final leg of the trip culminated with a guided tour of Cologne, Germany and a traditional regional German dinner with members of Skal Köln.

“New Jersey is turning 350 in 2014. Skal NNJ welcomes the opportunity to host a friendship trip with our European Skalleagues to commemorate New Jersey and celebrate all the Garden State has to offer,” said Dwyer.

Discussions on reciprocal friendship trips are already underway, according to Cathy Trementozzi, a South Plainfield resident and Skal NNJ board member.

Travel, tourism and hospitality professionals interested in joining the Northern New Jersey chapter of Skal International should email Secretary Jim Dwyer at [email protected] .

For more information about Skal, go to www.skal.org or visit Skal Northern New Jersey on Facebook.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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